Here Paul addresses a perennial problem in churches, namely, the difficulty that comes when often well meaning and talented teachers or leaders begin to influence people so much that factions devoted to their leadership develop in the church. Soon, people are following their favorite teachers and patterning their lives after their principles, sometimes even in opposition to church leadership. How do we deal with this? It’s certainly a problem, and even more so today because of the wide array of Internet voices that influence Christians. Paul here gently reminds believers to be aware of the possibility of division, and to unite around the Gospel and the Scriptures themselves as primary points of confidence. Paul was speaking here as someone who knew that Pastors and Elders had been assigned by God to every local church, and that they should have primary influence over the believers there, not gifted teachers, no matter how sincere they may be.

Dear Lord, as we live in our local church, help us to be discerning about the influence of influential voices on our spiritual lives. Help us to place the Pastors and Elders that you’ve given to our church into a primary position of influence in our lives. May we be faithful to You and Your leading in our lives. In Jesus name, amen.

Ever wish you lived back in the time of the original 12 disciples, and were able to have the Lord Jesus by your side 24/7? Well, actually you have that privilege. The One who is beside you now is the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus said would be everything that He Himself was to the disciples…just for you. He is called in this passage The Helper, sent specifically to be with you and help you as if Jesus was physically in your presence. So how well do you know the Spirit? How close do you believe He is to you personally? The more you grow in the Word, the more deeply you’ll be able to answer this question.

Heavenly Father, help us to know that the Holy Spirit is as close to us as Jesus was to the original disciples, and that we can encounter Him daily through the Word of God. Open our eyes to understand the blessing of the Spirit’s presence.In the Name of Jesus, amen.

This Psalm calls for believers to live trusting, “unfretful“ lives before the Lord, even if the wicked around us may prosper. The righteous will be tempted to do two things: be anxious (fret) or become angry (wrath). But these responses will just make us lose our peace as believers. The call from God here is to let this tension drive us more into the presence of the Lord, to “be still before the Lord“ 37:7, where we will find an invisible abundance and comfort.

Lord, even if I see others around me prosper who are unbelievers, don’t let my spirit be eaten up by envy. Help me not to fret, but to know that You know best, and to find my deepest riches in my relationship with You. In Your Precious Name, Amen.

“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the Gospel…”
- 1 Cor. 1:17

As a pastor, I’ve noticed a troubling trend in the last few years: successful pastors developing large numbers of online followers, and then leaving their churches to become full-time “online influencers“. They think that the more people they “influence“, the more used of God they are. This seems like the people Paul was talking about in Corinth, who were Christian speakers and teachers given to counting up the numbers of people they had baptized, a New Testament version of what we might call “followers“ today. Of all people, Paul could have left the hard work of pastoring local churches and just become an “influencer”in his time. There were many freelance traveling teachers in that time making quite a good living.But that’s not what he believed Christ had sent him to do. Jesus works in local churches, through local shepherds, one life at a time. If you have a devoted pastor, thank him today for staying with his sheep, and not chasing the false flock of influence.

Father, help us to understand that in our lives, the daily ordinary work of our ministries is what we are responsible for now and will give an account for in heaven. We will have more than enough to be accountable for in the work that you’ve given us to do today. Help us not to chase the false dreams of tomorrow.In Christ’s name, amen.

“In Your light do we see light.”
- Psalm 36:9

Did you know that every time you open your Bible, prayerfully read it, and ask God to show you the meaning of the passage you’re reading, that you are bound to experience a miracle of God? I’m not talking about miracles of healing or signs or wonders, I’m talking about the miracle of God revealing something from His great mind to your mind through His precious Scripture. The theologians call this the doctrine of “Illumination“. We every day Christians just call it “hearing from God”. It’s our privilege, every time we open the Word. As David wrote in this Psalm, because God is light, He casts His light on the truth as we read the Bible. Been enlightened today?

Loving Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us, not only through the crosswork of Your Son but through the intimate way You reveal truth to our hearts through the Bible. Help us long to meet You there every day, and not to miss the small but wonderful moments in which You speak to us through its pages. In Christ’s Name, amen.

“ By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.“
- John 13:35

Did you know that before Jesus ever gave his disciples the Great Commission, He first gave them the Great Commitment? What I’m talking about is enclosed in this wonderful verse. Before Jesus called His disciples to go to all the world with the Gospel , He gave them the most powerful proof of that message, which was the supernatural love for one another that they would have as Children of God. That powerful love would be the proof of the message. In your life of witness to lost people, don’t make the mistake of putting the second before the first.

Heavenly Father, help us to learn that the most powerful witness that we can carry with our words is our humble love for one another as Christians, and our suffering love for lost people. Put Your power into our proclamation today. In the wonderful name of Jesus. Amen.

This was the prayer of the Apostle Paul for a church that was filled with problems: immorality, jealousy, division, pride, and more. How could he thank God for people like this? Because, even with their weaknesses, they were people who had received the grace of God. They belonged to the Lord. Therefore God had great plans for them and had paid a great price for them. That’s the reason Paul valued them…in spite of their behavior. And that’s what we should do with all those who are Christians who disappoint us or even damage us. May we learn this secret of patient, forgiving grace toward others.

Lord, help us to practice this amazing sort of grace when we think of those in the Body of Christ who have disappointed us or even harmed us. Let us pray for their growth in Christ even as we remember that they are beloved in Christ. Help our hearts heal, and for those we pray for to become more like Jesus. In Your forgiving Name, Amen.

“ Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me!”
Psalm 35:1

Let’s face it, there are times when doing the right thing in the eyes of God makes you an enemy in the eyes of other people. This can happen in a family, a neighborhood, a workplace, or even in a church. But if this has happened to you, take heart. David wrote here that he gave his most difficult interpersonal struggles to the Lord. David didn’t fight against people … he let the Lord handle his enemies. When we do this, we find rest in God and know that He will resolve the hostilities of others against us, in His way and in His time.

Oh Lord, sometimes obeying You gets me into tension with others. Help me to speak the truth to them when I can, to love them in Christ whenever I can, but to trust that You will work things out in Your plan for my good. In Your Ever Present Name, Amen

Have you ever wondered how much Jesus loves even the deepest sinner? Look no further than this moment in the Upper Room. The Scripture says that earlier that night, the Devil had put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot to betray Jesus. Even knowing this, Jesus brought out the betrayal of Judas into the conversation that night, partly because He wanted Judas to hear His words and, in the final moment, turn from his deadly action. What love Jesus had for Judas, the deepest of sinners, that even in that hour He would confront Judas about his deadly plan and offer him a way out. None of us is too far from the convicting mercy of the Master. If you hear His convicting voice today, don’t ignore it like Judas did. Turn to Him today. 

Father, thank You for sending Your wonderful Son into this dark world of betrayal and sin. Thank You that He loved even Judas to the last. Help us to know that Jesus loves us deeply, even when we are trapped in sin, and that He is anxious to free us . Thank you for Your seeking love for us through Christ. Amen

Did you know that this famous psalm is not just poetry, but prophecy? It talks about the events that will happen at the end of history, in the time known as The Tribulation, when the nations of the earth will gather in battle against Jesus Christ, God’s Anointed. He will defeat them, and God the Father will install Jesus as our eternal King on a real throne, on a real Mount Zion, in a real nation of Israel, in real history. The point of the prophecy is that mankind at heart hates God, but one day God will still receive all the honor due His great Name. And you and I as His children will be there to witness it all!

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are in control of all human history, and that one day You will end the rebellion of wicked mankind and install your wonderful Son, Jesus, on His throne at the right time. Thank you that we know the King, and one day will be able to see Him and serve Him forever! Expectantly, Amen.

“ The Lord said to Me, “You are My Son; today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your heritage, and the ends of the earth Your possession.”

Psalm 2: 7-8

This Psalm actually records a conversation held between God the Father and God the Son. In it, God the Father promises that one day Jesus will have actual rulership over actual nations in an actual time in the future. This isn’t just poetry, it is prophecy. One day true peace and hope will return to this world, never to depart again. If you are a Christian today, you will be there to joyfully witness all of this. Truly, Jesus is the  coming King  of the World!

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us a front row seat to history in the future. We will be with Jesus when He receives the nations as His inheritance, and the Bible actually says that we will rule alongside Him as well. Help us to be faithful until the end, knowing that we will inherit the nations with Him. In hope, Amen.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely… at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”

1 Thessalonians 5:23


The Apostle Paul ends this wonderful epistle with an encouraging reminder that God has committed Himself to the great task of shaping us to be like Jesus in our character. You may feel like you haven’t made much progress at all in the Christian life, and you may be on the edge of giving up, but don’t! God is able to take you through any challenges, defeat any habits, and overcome any weaknesses that you have. He has committed Himself to making you like His Son. You cannot give up, because HE certainly won’t!

Heavenly Father, thank you for assuring me that no matter how discouraged I get in my effort to become more like Your Son, YOU will not give up on me! Help me to lean into my challenges, even more today, with the knowledge that when I see You, I will see Christ in me! Amen

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

Like the good Pastor-Teacher that he was, Paul begins to close this epistle with a set of “Rapid Reminders” about the spiritual life. He talks about certain spiritual habits that are suitable to every season of life and every series of events that a believer or a church could encounter. Learning to rejoice always and pray without ceasing, giving thanks, is an approach to both blessing and trial that has been proven for centuries in the lives of growing and godly believers. I’m sure you can think of some deeply godly people whom you know who practice these spiritual habits. Why not begin to deepen them in your life today?

Heavenly Father, thank you for the godly life of the Apostle Paul, and these insights into the habits of his spiritual life. Help us to be more deeply rejoicing, seeking Your face in prayer, and giving thanks in all circumstances. May this give us spiritual resilience in the things that we face this week. In the name of our ever-present Lord Jesus. Amen.

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with Him. Therefore, encourage one another, and build one another up, just as you are doing. 

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Paul here reminds the believer that Christians have a “Blessed Hope“, which is the certain hope that Jesus will return to take his church to heaven in an event that we know as The Rapture. He reminds us that God has not destined believers for wrath, which refers here to the great time of tribulation that will come upon the whole earth in the future. Instead, we will be taken in the blink of an eye to be with Jesus before that time of wrath descends. This produces hope and encouragement, which we should share with one another continually. The blessed moment called The Rapture could happen at any time. Are you looking for His return?

Heavenly Father, thank you for the great promise that You have not destined your church for wrath, but for the wonderful return of the Lord Jesus Christ. We want to serve You intensely today, because today could be the day! Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.… Therefore encourage one another with these words.”  1st Thessalonians 4:13–18

Paul here offers comfort to these believers who had lost loved ones in death and worried whether these loved ones would miss the glorious moment when the Lord returns for His church. Paul tells them that, far from missing that great day, those who have died in Christ will be on center stage! He says that when the Lord comes, the dead in Christ will rise first. They will not only be a part of that great day, they will even precede living believers at the moment of the Rapture. How does that apply to your life? Well, as a pastor I’ve seen many believers over the years lose a beloved Christian family member or friend in death, and wonder how long it would be until they see them again. Will they have to wait until their own death? Maybe, but maybe not! Seeing your lost loved one is really just as close as the Rapture. We might even see them today, for the Lord could come at any time. So as Paul said, encourage yourself with these words.

Father, help us to understand your timing in the taking of those that we’ve loved  through death. You knew best. And give us, we pray, faith to carry on until that wonderful day when Jesus comes to unite us all! Oh Lord, may that day be soon! in the name of the coming Savior .Amen.  

“Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another… But we urge you brothers to do this more and more.“
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Paul here tells the believers in the Thessalonian church to “love one another“, and then he adds this challenge: “do this more and more.“ The problem is, we don’t love this way often in the Body of Christ. When we feel convicted about loving someone in a certain situation, we will sometimes drum up the will to do it once, and then feel we’ve fulfilled our obligation. But Paul says this isn’t the way. We don’t love once and then call it good. Loving is not an achievement, or something to check off on our “Moral To Do List”, but an ongoing calling and pursuit. We are to continue it and grow in it. Humbling, isn’t it? Must be why the Christian life is only something HE can live… through us.

“For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not men but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.“ 1 Thessalonians 4: 7 – 8

This key section on “abstaining from sexual immorality“ contains a language selection by the Holy Spirit that says this is a “solemn warning“. It appears that for the Christian, sexual immorality is a particular sin that involves a particular response from God. The text calls it an “avenging“ done by God Himself. It seems that sexual immorality in the life of the Christian is a sin at a particularly serious level in God’s eyes. Perhaps this is because elsewhere the Bible teaches that sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is in a sense striking at the design of God for faithfulness in marriage, as an expression of His faithfulness to us. It may also be serious in the eyes of God because of the deep damage that immorality causes to anyone who is involved in it. God, out of a heart of love, wants to protect us from such damage. Therefore, God acts with particular discipline in the lives of those who are involved in immorality and yet claim to belong to Him. A sobering text, with a sobering possibility.

Lord, you know that I live in a society that’s “sex crazy“. Every day I feel my Christian standards worn down by the world, and I fight against the temptation in my own flesh. Help me to know that by Your power, I can stand in purity today. And help me to know how much it matters to You. In the name of Jesus, who stood against all sin with victory. Amen.

Pastor Paul again finds himself praying for the church in Thessalonica even as he’s writing to them. And notice what he prays for: the factor of “abounding love“ for the believers in that church for one another and for all is the heart of the prayer this pastor prayed for his people. Pastor Paul did not pray for the Thessalonian church to have greater impact, growth, success, or numbers. All of these things can be achieved in the flesh. But “abounding love” can only be a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is unusual, unmistakable, and attributable only to God. Thus, HE gets the glory. May it be so among us.

“For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction, we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.“

1 Thessalonians 3:7-8

We continue to find insights into the lives of pastors in our devotional journey through 2 Thessalonians. This week’s insight relates to finding deep joy in hard times. Paul and his team seemed to frequently live “in distress and affliction“ 3: 7. But there was a strong source of comfort underneath that suffering, and it came as these pastors witnessed the standing fast of their flock members in faith. As a Pastoral Team, this was where their joy was found, not in the relief of their own suffering but in the presence of faith in those they were sacrificially helping to grow. It’s the experience that any parent can relate to: when you see your children persevere through the hard things of life, you feel a gratification that is difficult to express. This can help you understand a pastor’s true joy. Encourage your own pastor this week by facing your challenges with the faith that your pastor taught you. By doing this, you will give him joy in his battle.

Father, grant me courage as I face the challenges of this week, if for no other reason than that my courage can be an encouragement to those believers who watch me, especially my own pastor. In Jesus’ name amen.

“For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.”   1 Thessalonians 3:1-5

This passage alludes to an important principle: “it is a deception of the Devil that Christians should not expect to suffer.”  In actuality, suffering for the faith is a reliable result of living for the faith; the second usually brings the first. In our soft spiritual society in America, the Tempter tempts persecuted Christians to believe that persecution is abnormal and a sign of failure, when actually (and Biblically!) persecution is very normal and a sign of obedience. That was the point of Paul’s words here, namely to expect suffering and not be surprised by it. So a sense of honor, not horror, should be our attitude when we suffer for Christ. The majority church across the world  in places like Iran and China already knows this, and rejoices in it. The church in America doesn’t. Yet.

Worthy Father, help me to build a spiritual life that has within it a willingness to suffer, even before suffering becomes unavoidable. Strengthen me now for what will be coming then. Let me learn how to treasure the honor of suffering for my faith in even small ways now, like rejection in my workplace for my faith, so that I will be ready to suffer in larger ways later. May I, like  Paul, desire to join Jesus “in the fellowship of His sufferings.” In His Worthy Name, amen.

As I mentioned when I began this weekly devo in 1 Thessalonians, you will find many insights into a pastors’s life with his people in this particular epistle. We see here that Paul (a “Pastor’s Pastor”) was joined to his people “in heart” and they to him. This was more than a professional relationship; it was more than a job for Paul and he was more than someone to fill a position to the people. Paul was deeply committed to his flock at Thessalonica because he had introduced them to Jesus and felt a call to care for them that was deeply personal. When such a bond between pastor and people exists, you can bet that the Enemy will do whatever he can to damage it. Here we read that Satan attempted to do this by causing Paul to be geographically separated from this church during a period when they deeply needed theological guidance, which was Paul’s specialty. Satan has many other ways to separate a pastor and people such as physical illness, economic needs that cause many pastors to have to work for part of their support outside the church, or other strains. But Paul kept pressing back against these Satanic strategies as much as  he could, by repeated attempts to visit the Thessalonians and, as here, multiple efforts to counsel and comfort them by letter. Why would Paul stay this committed against almost constant opposition? Because, as he tells us in 2:20, a pastor's deepest eternal  joy is the welfare of his flock. That’s worth remembering.

Heavenly Father, thank You for designing the church the way You have, as a flock, and pastors the way You have, as shepherds. Bring comfort and guidance to all those who labor in pastoral ministry today, wherever they are. Help them to be strong in the battle, even as they may be supernaturally hindered. Be the Victor in everything related to Your churches today, until we all see the Great Shepherd in heaven.  In The Name of that Chief Shepherd. Amen.

This is a sobering text. Paul unquestionably loved the Jewish people passionately and
sacrificially (just read Romans 9 – 11). But he says here that no matter what the ethnicity of
people who commit sin, God will deal with them in discipline. Of special seriousness to Paul was
the sin of keeping other people from hearing the Gospel. Here, sadly, Paul seems to
acknowledge God's “wrath” is the fitting result of the opposition of many of the Jewish people
of his era to the Word of the Gospel (2:15 – 16) So we must at the very least conclude that it is
a dangerous thing in the eyes of God to "hinder others from salvation". God, in some way that
we don't fully understand, seems to have allowed His wrath to come down upon Israel for their
rejection of Christ and for their opposition to the Gospel. The Scripture tells us that this is a
chastisement, not an abandonment, and that it is a temporary experience of judgment that
does not remove Israel from God's plan or God's love. Even today a remnant of the Jewish
people is turning to Christ, and one day when Jesus visibly returns all Israel will turn to Him as
Savior. But for now, Israel is still tasting the bitter experience of God's judgment for their
opposition to the Gospel. It’s a sober lesson for anyone. The most life-giving message in the
world is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, God will deal seriously with any human being
who opposes its spread. That dealing may not come until eternity future, but it will eventually
arrive. Were you an opponent of the Gospel in your earlier years before you found faith? Then
join me in thanking God for the tender grace He extended to you.

After pastoring churches and studying them personally for decades, I can tell you that one of the biggest dangers to a congregation is having a pastor who, when all is said and done, is really in ministry to use people and gratify himself. That is a tough statement for someone to have to make about pastors, but since I have battled with this challenge in my own ministry, I can talk about it. It also seems to be on Paul’s mind in this section of 1 Thessalonians. This is what Paul brings a warning about in chapter 2:5 – 6, and he takes pains to set himself apart from some of the ego driven pastors that his people had had some sad experience with. Paul then contrasts this kind of selfish pastor with two metaphors, or word pictures, of a good pastor: a tender nourishing mother 2:7 and a concerned father: 2:11-12. Both of these roles should be lived out by every pastor in a desire to see every person in a church "walk in a manner worthy of God". The goal is God's gratification, not the pastor’s gratification or glory. May God help every Pastor preaching today to live out this calling.

Chief Shepherd, please help every one of Your Undershepherds, the Pastors of churches worldwide, to constantly and seriously bring their motives for ministry under Your gaze and Your guidance. We need more godly Pastors than ever before, and You know how to raise them up. For the blessing of Your churches I pray. Amen

Well, we are already into the second chapter of First Thessalonians in our weekly devotional study, and let me point out that this entire second chapter deals with the subject of a pastor’s ministry to his people. Paul begins by discussing the “Minister’s Motivation.” He does so by talking about himself and his team, and how they viewed ministry. He writes that his team came not to deceive or with double lives (2:3) but boldly in God, even after suffering great mistreatment in Philippi. They were bold like this because they knew that they had been entrusted by God to preach His Precious Gospel, for His good pleasure, and they wanted more than anything else to please God! Every faithful pastor should have this as his main motivation: to faithfully preach the Gospel with which he has been entrusted. These days, any Pastor can be tempted to want to build a ministry for himself, or establish a platform for the spreading of his name online or elsewhere. However, God never calls a leader into the ministry in order for that leader to pursue his own objectives; God is instead interested in calling leaders who just want to be faithful to Him. May you be blessed to see this pure motivation in the Pastors who have a ministry in your life.

Ever wonder how long you have to be a Christian before you begin to get some of the bigger
things right in regard to the Christian life? Turns out, not that long at all. The believers at Thessalonica were only a few years old in the faith, but they already had the basics of loving God right. So much so in fact that their reputation for being obedient and brave disciples was beginning to ring throughout their region of the Roman Empire. Paul begins this Epistle by commending them for this testimony. His praise of these Thessalonian "Baby Christians”, who were young in the faith but powerful in their testimony, forms a beautiful three-part practical theology of the Christian life. As Christians, we are simply to 1. Turn to God 2. Serve that living and true God 3. Wait for His Son from heaven, who rescues us from the wrath (the Tribulation) to come. Can you think of anything else in the Christian life that isn’t covered by this statement? I can’t! Believing friend, our calling as Christians may at times be hard, but it’s really this simple… and this glorious. Join me in the journey today.